What you'll learn

In this set of Maya tutorials we will how to use Maya's intuitive and fun animation tools to create a convincing run cycle. We'll start by taking a look at our rig and figuring out a rotate order that would be most suitable for our needs. We'll then jump right in an start blocking in our run; adding extremes and breakdowns. Once this is finished, we'll begin polishing the animation, which includes refining arcs, achieving weight and balance, as well as solidifying each pose. We'll also learn how to mirror and transfer animation to work faster, and learn how to translate the run forward. In the end, you'll not only learn how to animate a run cycle, but, more importantly, learn techniques that can be used to improve the quality of your animations. Software required: Autodesk Maya 2013.